NH board implements best, final offer for teachers

TRACI ANDERSON

Published 11:24 am, Monday, April 25, 2016

At Wednesday's school board meeting, the board approved a resolution to implement its best and final offer on all remaining issues in dispute.

Before approving the resolution, the board went into executive session. Upon returning to the regular meeting, Board Treasurer Denise Schmidt read the resolution. The resolution stated the board's negotiating team presented its best and final offer to the NHEA on Dec. 6, 2004, during a mediation session on issues remaining in dispute.

The best and final offer states the salary schedule will stay the same as the 2003-04 school year for the school years through 2006-07. The board will open contract for salary if the state raises the per student allowance funding to $7,300 during the term of the contract.

For health benefits, the school would provide $1,249 per month for the school years through 2006-07. Any amount over this figure would be paid through payroll deduction. The clause regarding the employer providing health coverage for sponsored dependents without cost for 12 months was deleted.

The school calendar will be based on 186/185/184 days for the 2004-05/2005-06/2006-07 school years, respectively. Half day Wednesdays are no longer scheduled.

The offer also stated as soon as needs are determined by the district, the district will give 20 days notice to any teacher being laid off.

As for the school day, a teacher shall be required to report for duty no earlier than five minutes before the student day and remain no longer than 45 minutes after the student day except for parent/professional meetings. Preparation time will be at the end of each school day.

The offer states the goal for class sizes and student/teacher ratio is to keep class size at or less than 30 students with the understanding that class size in grades 7-12 will be balanced by some larger and some smaller classes. For elementary classes when the student/teacher ratio is very important, the board and the teacher representatives will meet in an effort to reach a satisfactory solution in any class size problem. This solution may include hiring part-time paraprofessional staff.

The resolution passed by the school board stated the NHEA has not accepted this best and final offer, and the board of education has determined that "it is in the best interest of the school district to implement the terms of its best and final offer as presented." Because of this offer not being accepted, the bargaining has reached an impasse, according to the resolution.

The resolution was approved five to one, with board Trustee Dennis Gottschalk casting a no vote.

Later in the meeting, Superintendent Scott Dunsmore read a statement regarding the resolution.

"This allows the district to still bargain in good faith and plan and budget for the next two years," he said. "The board's fiscal responsibility is very appropriate with North Huron schools declining enrollment due to attrition with more seniors graduating than we have kindergartners coming in the next school year. The board wants to be able to offer as many class offerings and programs as they possibly can with the revenue that is generated by our student count."

He said the board of education has always been supportive of all staff members and remain so.

"But, in these fiscally restrictive times, we cannot offer to the North Huron Education Association what the district cannot afford," he said.

Dunsmore said this morning the major issues in the bargaining discussions have been salary, benefits, school day, and school calendar.

NHEA President Durwin Jacobs said he did not want to comment on the resolution at this time.